Screaming Children ALL DAY!

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Today was probably one of the more rewarding days for me so far here. I went to Konan Shogakko (elementary school) today and taught 4 classes. These kids seriously have so much energy, I can't believe that they can keep going like this all day! I was supposed to teach a lesson 1st period for the 2nd years (8th graders) at the chugakko (JHS), but my JTE let me skip the lesson because they were really just reviewing for the test that's coming up. Plus I was busy making big flash cards of animals because that was my theme today at the shogakko = animals!

I actually visited the shogakko last Friday for one period with one of my JTEs and we met with their English club. The kids are so sweet and there are only five of them, but they are pretty good at English. They know a lot of vocabulary at least. We rode the school bikes over to the shogakko because it's pretty close and easy to bike to. I have a hard time with the bigger mama bikes (the ones with baskets on the front) because I'm so short and it's kind of hard to handle...(more info on that later).

Every class sort of had the same theme. I would do my self introduction with the help of my JTE and then it was time for May sensei's Quiz! Everyone who got the answers right (or not) would get a Pooh sticker, which I bought from the 100 yen store. Then I would introduce the animals we were learning about today using the big flash cards and then we would play a game. For the 1st and 2nd graders we played animal karuta. Basically the kids sit in a circle and I made cards of the animals we were learning about and I call out an animal name and they have to slap the right card. Whoever has the most cards by the end of the game wins!

The most hilarious group were the 2nd graders because one group was sooo into it...they were literally fighting over the cards. I tried to get them to relax by having them sit on their hands so they wouldn't be so close to the middle. Plus they were SO LOUD. Everytime I would call out an animal they would slap and then you hear like shouts from the one group (there were three total). This one kid cracked me up cause he was like upset that he didn't get a card so he was sad and angry and then shrieking the next time...so emotional. There were three teachers in the room though so that must have been nice at least to have som help prying kids away from each other or making them jan-ken (rock, scissors, paper) for the cards.

For the 5th graders and the 3rd graders, we did the same thing, but this time played "Zoo's Basket". If anyone knows what fruits basket is, it's the same thing, but with animals. Everyone sits in a circle and each person is assigned an animal. I chose or had the kids choose 4 animals and so each person was assigned one of those animals. Then I would call out the name of an animal because I was "it" and then everyone scrambles to find a seat. This was another hilarious game because sometimes the same kid would end up in the middle or the kids are literally sliding on the floor and sitting on each other fighting for a seat. It's easy for me cause I'm bigger than them....lol. The floors are really slippery though and I had to wear the guest slippers and not my own shoes so that didn't help.

The 1st graders and the 2nd graders probably loved me the most. These 4 little girls came into the teacher's room where I was and they were so shy, but they wanted to introduce themselves to me. They even asked me to play tag with them during recess. One girl wanted to know how old I was. I didn't end up playing with them later because the 6th graders were giving me a tour of the school, but I heard the 2nd graders wanted to play hide and go seek with me during recess and were looking for me! Talk about being in demand! I had lunch with the 6th graders and they were a lot quieter than the other kids cause they're older and probably more self conscious. A lot of the kids at the shogakko have older siblings at the chugakko and I could definitely tell. This one girl is the spitting image of her older brother and she was so cute, but very shy.

The same group of 1st grade girls found me during recess and wanted to take pictures with me. I just hear May sensei!!!!! and they're running up to me. I love the little kids even though they are the loudest. When did I start liking kids? I barely know, but I always really love playing my little cousins and godsons so I think that's when it all started.

After I left shogakko I was so tired and had a slight headache from all the yelling and playing games, but I felt really happy because it was such a fun day.

More fun things that happened after shogakko:
1. I fell off the bike. Three kids were running after me and I wanted to stop in case I ran into one of them so I ended up falling over sideways. I didn't really hurt myself, but I was kind of embarassed. I mean gosh, I can ride a bike!
2. I took the wrong bus home. It still went to the station, but it took the long way and cost 700 yen instead of 520.

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Comments

[mil reyes]

what wonderful experiences!!
Precious, I have to thank your Tita Isa for forwarding me your travelblog address. This is the 3rd entry I've read. I can picture you with all the screaming kids. I'm fascinated by the games you use with them - did you learn that when you did your university course? Up to when will you be there? I have stickers that your kids will love, esp coz they're Oz ones. Enjoy every bit of your stay. Btw, do you board? Or, do you have to cook? Keep well. I'll try to write whenever I can.

[Pear Kimchee]

games with students
Tita Mil, the games are from materials we received at orientation and of course training that we got before starting classes. A lot of them are Japanese games modified for learning English. I'll be here for a year and I live in my own apartment. Some days I will cook, but most of the time I go out to eat because I'm just too tired after school to cook, plus my kitchen is very small, only one burner.